Smartphone Trends of 2012

Every year, new products and trends emerge in the wireless technology industry. The proliferation of 4G LTE technology and new operating systems are shaping the wireless industry. Here are some smartphone highlights from 2012 so far.

4G LTE Equipped
This is the year of 4G LTE. Most new devices are 4G LTE-enabled to take advantage of faster data speeds. That means less time loading webpages, streaming videos, sharing content and accessing the Internet.

New 4G LTE smartphones are equipped with entertainment features for seamless video viewing and improved latency. Sports fans can quickly get the latest sports news with the Spectrum by LG, which comes preloaded with the ESPN ScoreCenter app.

Those who use their devices to stream or download movies, shows and videos can use apps like Color or Viewdini on the Samsung Galaxy S III to experience high quality viewing over a mobile connection. The DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE by HTC features HTC Video Pic, which simultaneously shoots video and takes pictures, as well as Beats Audio for an exceptional listening experience.

Operating System Upgrades
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich launched in late 2011 and debuted on several smartphones in 2012. The upgraded operating system provided Android smartphones with new features like Face Unlock and speech to text technology. The Samsung Galaxy S III and DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE by HTC included Ice Cream Sandwich at launch , while other smartphones were upgraded, including the DROID RAZR, DROID RAZR MAXX, DROID 4 and HTC Rezound. Updates for more devices are on the way.

Affordable Options
Affordability is a desirable quality for a smartphone, but many people don’t want to sacrifice top features like 4G LTE. The Lucid by LG provides a mobile experience seen in more advanced smartphones with an easy-to-navigate display making it perfect for first-time smartphone users. The Pantech Marauder is another affordable option that features a virtual and slide-out keypad, a camera for video chatting and 4G LTE speeds.

So far, these trends have shaped what customers want in smartphones in 2012.

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